Calling all residents of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cumbria, Cornwall and the Isle of Man… have you got this date in your diary?

If you want to experience the very essence of Brittany, this annual Celtic festival is an absolute must. Every summer as many as 700,000 people descend on the seaside town of Lorient in the department of Morbihan for a 10-day celebration of all things Celtic: music, dance, visual arts and gastronomy. It’s a particular draw for visitors from the UK’s Celtic hotspots – so if this is you, don’t miss it!

The festival begins with a ‘cotriade’ or ‘kaoteriad’, a traditional Breton seafood supper in the Port de Pêche harbour, accompanied by sea shanties and other traditional Breton marine music. The first Sunday morning sees the spectacular Grand Parade of Celtic Nations at 10am, involving over 3,500 musicians, singers and dancers from all over the Celtic world, who parade through the town streets wearing national costume. The finals of the National Bagadoù (bagpipe) Championship also take place in the Parc de Moustoir during the first weekend, with strong competition between Brittany’s finest pipers. Early risers can even join morning masterclasses with some of the world’s premier harpists, accordionists and fiddlers.

In the evenings there’s a choice of several other music events: orchestral concerts, rock concerts and the not-to-be-missed ‘Nuits Magiques’, which are spectacular unified performances by pipe bands, dancers and choirs – topped off by fireworks. One of the biggest names for 2017 is Scottish singer-songwriter Amy MacDonald, due to perform on Friday 11th at 10pm. There’s also plenty of activity as part of the festival fringe, with musicians giving free performances in many of Lorient’s bars and pubs every evening until late. Throughout the festival the ‘Village Celtique’ is also open in centre of town, offering food, literature, clothing and crafts.

The main festival sites are located throughout the centre of Lorient, which has all the allure of a Brittany Riviera. The town itself has fragments of world history intermingled with its heritage and landscapes. Its houses, beaches and quays tell tales of the conquest of India and the East Indies, deep sea fishing, the Second World War, the growing popularity of ocean racing and the restored pride of the Celtic nations. And when you want respite from the buzz, you can enjoy coastal walks past a string of pretty beaches and harbours, gazing out to the Ile de Groix on the horizon.

Over half of the Interceltique’s events and performances are FREE… so what are you waiting for?